Adapted from a series of graphic novels by Dav Pilkey, The Dog Man Movie is a live-action animated comedy. Its debut occurred in the year 2025. Producers DreamWorks Animation and distributors Universal Pictures worked together to make the picture. As the sequel to Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (2017), it is both the second feature film in the franchise and a spin-off of that film.
Starring alongside Stephen Root, Billy Boyd, Ricky Gervais, Isla Fisher, Pete Davidson, and Lil Rel Howery is the film’s director, Peter Hastings. Hastings contributes to Dog Man with vocal effects as well. This film had its international premiere at the Festival de l’Alpe d’Huez and then went on to release all across the globe. Both critics and viewers thought highly of it.
Director | Peter Hastings |
Writer | Peter Hastings |
Producer | Karen Foster |
Production Company | DreamWorks Animation |
Distributor | Universal Pictures |
Release Date | January 31, 2025 (United States) |
Premiere Date | January 15, 2025 (Festival de l’Alpe d’Huez) |
Running Time | 89 minutes |
Budget | $40 million |
Box Office | $40.5 million |
Language | English |
Summary of the Storyline
Evil feline Petey wreaks havoc on the citizens of OK City. Destroying an entire structure, he detonates a bomb. Officer Greg and his dog, Knight, attempt to apprehend him. A detonation occurs. Greg takes a lot of damage to his body, and Knight has a rather significant head injury. Two doctors save the day by grafting Greg’s skull onto Knight’s corpse. The Dog Man is brought into this world.
A police officer is Dog Man. Multiple times, he puts Petey under arrest. Rivalry intensifies. A cloning machine is constructed by Petey. Replicating himself as a kitten is an unintentional creation of his. The child known as Li’l Petey is brought into this world. Instead of getting into trouble, Li’l Petey would rather have fun.
The clone is left behind by Petey. Petey the Dog is adopted by Dog Man. Flippy, a telekinetic fish, is brought back to life at the same time. Tensions rise. Structures spark life. Street combat between mechs. Petey and Flippy are fought by Dog Man.
Redeeming himself is Petey’s goal. Some say he’s evolving. Dog Man and Little Petey start a brood of their own. The city has been spared.
Voice Cast and Characters
Actor | Character | Description |
---|---|---|
Peter Hastings | Dog Man | A hybrid police officer with a dog’s head. |
Pete Davidson | Petey | A clever but arrogant villain. |
Lucas Hopkins Calderon | Li’l Petey | A kind-hearted kitten and Dog Man’s sidekick. |
Lil Rel Howery | Chief | The police chief of OK City. |
Isla Fisher | Sarah Hatoff | A journalist covering Dog Man’s cases. |
Billy Boyd | Seamus | Sarah’s cameraman. |
Ricky Gervais | Flippy | A fish with telekinetic abilities. |
Stephen Root | Grampa | Petey’s neglectful father. |
Poppy Liu | Butler | Petey’s former assistant. |
Cheri Oteri | Mayor | The mayor of OK City. |
The film stays loyal to the books. The humor and action keep audiences entertained.
Development and Production
December 2020 was the announcement year for The Dog Man Movie. Directorship was officially confirmed by Peter Hastings. Captain Underpants: The Epic Tales was one of his previous projects.
Karen Foster became a producer in January 2024.
In September of 2024, the primary actors were introduced.
In terms of animation, Jellyfish Pictures was in charge.
The score for the film was written by Tom Howe.
Some of DreamWorks’ 2D comic elements were blended with CGI. As in Pilkey’s novels, the style is consistent.
Advertising and Public Relations
In September of 2024, the official trailer was unveiled. Its view count hit 102 million.
Toys and apparel featuring the Dog Man were released by Jakks Pacific.
Kids Baking Championship featured a Dog Man task.
The marketing effort developed by Universal aimed squarely at families.
More than 246 million interactions were generated by the campaign. A lot of people were talking about the movie.
Success at the Box Office
At its premiere, The Dog Man Movie did quite well. It came out at the same time as Valiant One and Companion. Preliminary estimates put the debut at $20–$30 million. I was pleasantly surprised with the flick.
Making $36 million in its first weekend of sales.
The most anticipated animated film of January since 2016’s Kung Fu Panda 3.
Critical Reception
Review Site | Score | Summary |
---|---|---|
Rotten Tomatoes | 78% | Critics praised its humor and animation. |
Metacritic | 64/100 | Generally favorable reviews. |
CinemaScore | A | Audiences enjoyed it. |
Critics called it fun, energetic, and family-friendly. The film appeals to kids and nostalgic adults.
Answers to Common Questions
1. Is there a connection between Captain Underpants and Dog Man Movie?
Yes. Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (2017) served as the inspiration for this spin-off.
2. Is Dog Man the good guy or the bad guy?
Dog Man deserves heroes. The man battles criminals in OK City.
3. Is a Dog Man 2 in the works?
It is probably, but not definitely, a sequel.
4. What is the target audience for Dog Man Movie?
It is a PG flick. Children and their families will love it.
5. So, where exactly is the Dog Man Movie?
In the latter half of 2025, it will be accessible on Peacock and Netflix.
In conclusion
You will find humor, excitement, and emotion in The Dog Man Movie. It perfectly embodies the essence of Dav Pilkey’s writings. One of the best family movies of 2025, it had a solid opening weekend, excellent animation, and plenty of laughs.
This short is an absolute must-see for fans of animated comedies and superhero parodies. 🎬🐶